Bring Out the Best in Your Dog

Karena Kosco’s puppy tale with English Cocker Spaniel Mocha

This article was originally published in the April 2025 OVERview digital magazine.

Karena Kosco grew up on the East Coast and then moved to San Diego, California, after graduate school to work in the biotech industry. Currently, she leads product development at a molecular diagnostics company, where they create tests that help oncologists diagnose and treat cancer more effectively. “Interestingly, the scientific troubleshooting I do at work often parallels the problem-solving approach needed for dog training,” she said.

A member of San Diego Coastal Agility Club, she and her husband, Mike, began training their first dog for agility in 2003 — an Italian Greyhound named Cedar. “We’ve been hooked ever since! Mocha is now my sixth dog. Over the years, I’ve also trained and competed with a Toy Fox Terrier, two Border Collies and a Papillon, each bringing unique challenges and learning experiences,” she said.

Karena picking apples with her pack (before Mocha): Ronan (3), Kiwi (5) and Jax (9)

Karena and her husband wanted a smaller breed for their next dog and followed the development of a lovely litter of English Cocker Spaniel puppies. Mocha was born on Halloween in 2024 and was raised by All That Working Dogs in Connecticut using a personalized approach. “We were drawn to the working English Cocker for its athleticism, high drive and compact size. We became familiar with the breed over the past few years as it grew in popularity in agility,” she said.

‘Bring out the best in each dog.’

“I enjoy variety and the challenge of working with different breeds, adapting my training to bring out the best in each dog. While I may have focused more on positive reinforcement andmotivation with my toy breeds and managing overarousal with my Border Collies, with an enthusiastic spaniel, my priority might be channeling their energy effectively,” Karena explained.

She was fortunate to be able to meet the litter when the puppies were 6 weeks old. “Mocha melted my heart! To train her, I rely on several sources to create a well-rounded program. Importantly, too, I give her lots of time to just be a happy puppy. Having been down the puppy training path before, I draw on past experience along with learning from a variety of instructors, both online and in person. Also, I seek guidance from her breeder, especially for gaining breed-specific insights,” she said.

Mocha

Choosing a puppy: start with research

Karena encourages those seeking puppies to first research the breed that interests them. “Talk to different people to get their perspective on things like energy level and personality. Every situation is different, and you want to make sure your new puppy will fit into your lifestyle. If you are already familiar with the breed, meeting related dogs can also be helpful,” she said. “I have always found it to be beneficial to meet the puppies a couple of weeks before they’re ready to go home. If you have specific characteristics in mind and use objective criteria, it can help guide your decision.”